Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stockpiled three high in areas accessed by workers and pedestrians being routed through the vehicle route without effective segregation. The employer previously faced enforcement action for similar stockpiling and collapse risks, yet further failures were identified and prosecution followed.

What Was The Incident?

HSE inspectors visited a waste and recycling site in August 2022 and observed vehicles and plant being driven around the yard, including tipper lorries and loading shovels. Pedestrian access was restricted by chaining and padlocking the pedestrian entrance, forcing pedestrians to use the same route used by lorries and other vehicles. HSE identified no effective segregation between designated pedestrian routes and vehicle movements, and large vehicle reversing required additional precautions that were not in place. The employer had a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and had not been updated after site layout changes, so it did not address key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed, creating instability. In places the stack was three high, which increased the chance of collapse and falling. The stacks were located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot and by vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to meet duties under sections 2 and 3 by putting employees, agency workers and other persons at risk of death and or serious personal injury. The company was fined 167,000 and ordered to pay 16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Separate people and vehicles with real site arrangements. Ensure pedestrian routes and vehicle routes are effectively segregated and use designated routes and crossing points rather than forcing pedestrians to share the vehicle route.

Stacking of heavy waste items must prevent collapse. Do not allow deformed skips or unsafe stockpiling, and recognise that greater stacking height increases the likelihood of collapse or falling, especially where people can be nearby.

Traffic plans must be visible and up to date. If a traffic plan exists, it must be clearly visible to staff and visitors and kept current when the site configuration or movement patterns change.

Reversing and large vehicle movements need extra controls. Where large vehicles reverse, you must identify what additional precautions are needed to protect people working nearby and implement them where appropriate.

Address repeat enforcement and known legal duties. If the business has been previously served with notices about stockpiling and collapse risks, treat further failures as a serious indicator that controls are not being sustained or improved.

HSE Prosecution Link